Canton, Texas Police Officer Arrested For Drug Violations

  TYLER, Texas – A 32-year-old Canton, Texas Police Officer has been arrested for federal drug violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.

James Melvin Bradshaw was indicted by a federal grand jury on Mar. 27, 2013 and charged with six counts of acquiring a controlled substance by misrepresentation.  Bradshaw was arrested this morning and went before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith Guthrie this afternoon for an initial appearance.

According to the indictment, on six separate occasions from January to November 2012, Bradshaw is alleged to have used his position as a police officer to obtain hydrocodone by fraud, deception or misrepresentation.  Bradshaw is alleged to have acquired the hydrocodone from individuals who had legitimate prescriptions to possess the substance.

If convicted, Bradshaw faces up to four years in federal prison on each charge.   

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Jackson.

A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.